The $196-million project is funded by multiple sources with the RTA being the single largest contributor. Funding partners include: RTA ($75 million), Federal Transit Administration through a Transportation and Infrastructure Generating Economic Recovery grant ($63 million), New Starts federal grants ($6 million), city of Tucson Certificates of Participation/Grant Anticipation Notes ($26.6 million) and other regional ($9 million) and local funding.

The streetcar vehicles were manufactured by Oregon Iron Works/United Streetcar in Portland, Ore., and the general contractors for the project include Old Pueblo Trackworks (Granite/Railworks JV), D.L. Withers Construction and Ashton Construction. HDR Engineering also had a hand in planning and managing construction.

"Tucsonans have been waiting patiently for construction and testing to be over and service to begin," said Tucson Mayor and RTA Vice Chair Jonathan Rothschild. "I hope everyone visits the businesses along the route and enjoys a free streetcar ride over the three-day weekend of the 25th through the 27th."